Next Century Cities Celebrates Three Years

Next Century Cities recently marked its third anniversary since the organization’s launch in 2014. Over three short years, this nonprofit coalition that started with just 32 mayors has grown to represent 35 million Americans in 182 communities across the country, and has worked tirelessly to represent local leaders’ voices in national broadband debates and to advocate for city rights and choices.

Over the past three years, Next Century Cities members have made tremendous progress in promoting local leadership in broadband and creative community solutions. Next Century Cities is thrilled to be entering year four with such an enthusiastic and determined membership, and is looking forward to building on these successes as they work to expand access to fast, affordable, and reliable broadband in communities nationwide.

Here’s a quick look back at what Next Century Cities has been able to accomplish with its engaged membership in just three years:

Hosted eleven major regional summits and national events, and organized countless panels. Next Century Cities works to continuously elevate city voices through events that ensure that there’s a seat at the table for the local perspective, and provide a platform for cities to share stories of success and lessons learned.

Transforming Communities: Broadband Goals for 2017 and Beyond featured Senators Boozman (R-AR), Klobuchar (D-MN), and King (I-ME), as well as mayors and city leaders. It was held in Washington, D.C. to discuss strategies and policy priorities for expanding access to high-speed internet and broadband policy priorities following the 2017 election.

Next Century Cities hosted three Regional Broadband Summits, in Maine, Washington State, and Arizona. The latest Summit, Digital Southwest, co-hosted by Next Century Cities and the City of Mesa, Ariz., brought together broadband champions from federal, state, and local government, as well as community leaders and broadband policy experts from the Southwest and across the nation.

The Launch of the Ammon Fiber Utility celebrated member Ammon, Id.’s successful and innovative open-access network and lifted up their model as a resource and inspiration for other communities.

City-Vendor Connect paired dozens of cities looking for innovative partnerships to expand broadband access for their residents with multiple vendors offering a variety of proposed solutions.

In addition to hosting events, Next Century Cities has coordinated panels to lift local voices at events for the U.S. Conference of Mayors, SXSW, the Broadband Communities Summit, and more.

Lifted up digital equity and civic engagement innovations with grants and awards to fifteen different community projects. Next Century Cities’ Digital Inclusion Leadership Awards have recognized unique projects across the country, such as Seattle’s Technology Matching Fund program and Kansas City, Mo.’s Internet Services and Weatherization Program. The Charles Benton Next Generation Engagement Awards supported civic engagement initiatives in Raleigh, N.C.; Louisville, Ky.; and Austin, Texas. These projects served as inspiration for the new civic engagement playbook. Each of these projects demonstrate the limitless potential of a connected community, and Next Century Cities is proud to support them.

Represented Mayors to Presidential Administrations. Next Century Cities has visited the White House on several occasions to discuss the importance of universally available fast, affordable, and reliable broadband.

Testified before Congress. The organization supported Dr. Robert Wack, of member city Westminster, Md., when he appeared before Subcommittee on Communications and Technology to testify about the importance of accurate broadband mapping. And Next Century Cities Executive Director Deb Socia has delivered two Congressional testimonies about broadband infrastructure investment and barriers to broadband deployment.

Next Century Cities will continue to pursue opportunities to engage, inform, and empower local officials as they work toward ensuring fast, affordable, and reliable broadband access for their residents. In just three years, the organization has provided an unparalleled platform for mayors across the country — leading cities large and small — to highlight successes, make city-to-city connections, and join together to make their voices heard in the national broadband debate.

As access to next-generation only continues to grow as an important issue at the local and national level in the next three years, Next Century Cities will be there to support mayors and communities leading the way to increase access for all.